From Friends and Associates, A Tribute to Michael Bennett

By JEREMY GERARD

Published: September 30, 1987

An overflow crowd gathered yesterday afternoon at the Shubert Theater to memorialize Michael Bennett, the director and choreographer who died of AIDS on July 2. They listened as Mr. Bennett's friends and colleagues recalled moments in a brief life, and as a palpable sadness enshrouded the theater.

''All of us here today were affected in some way by Michael,'' said the first speaker, Bob Avian, who was Mr. Bennett's friend and co-choreographer throughout his professional life.

The tribute began with Marvin Hamlisch, composer of the music for Mr. Bennett's ''Chorus Line,'' playing ''What I Did For Love'' from that show. Mr. Hamlish was accompanied by a brief film clip of the late director, seen dancing as a child.

''He had that way of inspiring you to collaborate with him,'' Mr. Avian said, reading a letter of appreciation from the musicians in the orchestra pit of ''A Chorus Line.'' 'We All Felt Singled Out'

Collaboration was the most often-repeated theme of the 80-minute tribute. A set designer who worked on many shows with Mr. Bennett, Robin Wagner, added that ''we all felt singled out.'' Mr. Bennett's first manager, Marvin Krause, said that ''Michael enjoyed being a friend'' - a thought clearly shared by others who spoke.

Mr. Bennett's brother, Frank DeFiglia, said the illness that had taken Mr. Bennett's life demanded a cure. Mr. DeFiglia, a stage manager, read a letter of love from their mother. ''He showed us deep truths about ourselves,'' Mr. DeFiglia concluded. ''The Greeks, I think, called it catharsis. Michael called it a Broadway musical.''

In addition to Mr. Hamlisch, musical tributes were offered by the ''Dreams,'' the singing group that is the subject of Mr. Bennett's ''Dreamgirls,'' and Cleavant Derricks, an original cast member of that show. Jimmy Webb, who wrote the songs for several of Mr. Bennett's works-in-progress, sang, as did Stephen Sondheim. Others Offering Tributes

Other tributes and remembrances were offered by Mr. Bennett's lawyer, John Breglio; Bernard B. Jacobs, a friend and the president of the Shubert Organization; Donna McKechnie, the dancer to whom Mr. Bennett was briefly married, and the Daily News columnist Liz Smith.

''He's Broadway - Mr. Broadway,'' said Joseph Papp, the producer of the Public Theater, where ''A Chorus Line'' was first presented. ''He made every moment work. That's a marvelous lesson.''

As if to underscore Mr. Papp's point, the tribute concluded with the cast of ''A Chorus Line'' performing ''One,'' the triumphant finale from that show. As the number proceeded, Mr. Wagner's mirrored panes at the back of the stage turned to reveal an enormous photograph of the director - standing in front of letters spelling out ''DREAM,'' smiling, his arms outspread as if to embrace all the theater itself.